Throw a barbell on an Oompa-Loompa and you’ve ready for some PR push presses, because that erect torso is going to come in really handy when the weight adds up.
The Oompa-Loompa cue is just one of many developed by Jeff Martin of CrossFit Kids and CrossFit Brand X. In this video shot at a CrossFit Kids Certification, Martin and his staff give examples of various cues you can use to get young athletes in the right positions.
Martin also explains that it’s important to give kids a reason why they should perform a certain exercise. While teens might want to use squats to help them do well in sports and get girls, younger children might want to use squats to develop the speed to get away from the girls.
Either way, the kids will squat—and they’ll do it properly with great cues.
Video by CrossFit By Overload.
Additional reading: The Inherent Responsibilities of Training Children and Teens by Jeff Martin and Cyndi Rodi, published July 1, 2008.